BLACKWOOD. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) &amp;nbsp; 30th November, 1866. The Escort left this on Monday last for Kyneton Railway Station; with 1333 ounces of gold. The supply of water for mining purposes is still kept up by the occasional showers which have recently fallen, and if they only continue in the same intermittent manner for a couple of months longer, operations are not likely to be suspended for any length of time (if at all), during the summer. As a rule, we can do better with an over, than an under supply of water. Our yield of gold is not diminishing, and the healthy state of our reefs generally, together with the discoveries of new ones (which are almost of daily occurrence,) do not warrant the conclusion that it is likely to become less. Indeed, there is every appearance of its increasing. It is the opinion of many that our future is yet before us; and although we have not made such rapid progress as some other mining communities, neither have we declined, as not a f...

BALLAN, (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, and Pentland Hills Agricultural and Pastoral Society, held their first cattle show in Ballan on Thursday, the 29th instant. But a few weeks ago, when we talked of the advisability and advantage of establishing such a Society for Ballan, it was looked upon as the dream of some visionary, and a thing which could not be realised ; but to-day it is a fact, and the first Ballan show a thing of the past. It will long be remembered as an epoch in our history. Every thing connected with the Society reflects the greatest credit upon those gentlemen who have taken an active part in its management-as committee-men and stewards; they have spared no labour and expense, and everything done is worthy of our fast-progressing town, and themselves as representatives of our important agricultural interest. The Society's show yards are situated on rising ground, about half-a-mile outside the town, and are five acres in extent. Only one ac...

SELECTED POETRY. TREASURES. Treasures ! What are treasures ? How manifold their kind ! The products in a thousand shapes &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Of many a gifted mind. The poet builds the lofty rhyme, His treasure and his pride ; The artist o'er his easel bends, And dreams of naught beside. The lover has his treasure, too, A maiden young and fair, With graceful form and witching eyes, And wealth of golden hair. Treasures ! What are treasures ? All that the heart holds dear, Or adds to human happiness, And soothes our sorrows here. Treasures ! What are treasures ? Oh, answer ye who view The many-tinted flowers that bloom, The Heaven's serenest hue; Who list the gushing melody Of Nature's untaught choir; Who live for great and noble things, And gloriously aspire. There's not a plant or flower below, Or aught that God hath made, In valley deep, on mountain top, But beauty doth pervade. The earth's made up of treasures, As drops compose the sea, Or grains of sand the ocean's bed, ...

AUCTIONEER'S NOTICE. MONTIHLY STOC0K AND PRODUCE SALES AT KEILOR, MELTON, BACCHUS MARSH, AND MYRN IONG. E. CROOK bogs to notify, to the public goneo ,. rally, and particularly to the residents in and around the several townships as above named, that, from the repeated solicitations of many of his old patrons and othors, it is his intention, in addition to the already-established sales at Bacchus Marsh and Melton, to start monthly sales at Myr niong and Koilor respectively, at which latter places Mr. Swannell, of Myrniong, and Mr. Gowdio, of Keilor, have kindly placed their yards at his disposal. The following are the dates at which the sales will take place, commencing at 12 noon Keilor ... The last Friday in every month. Melton ... ,, Thursday Bacchus Marsh ,, Saturday Myrniong ... The first Wednesday ,, J. E. C. takes this opportunity of thanking the public for all past favours, and begs to request a continuance thereof. It is scarcely necessary to say that all properties entruste...

Naccdjius 'l4am irss SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1806. IN their reply to the speech of His Excel lency Sir CHARLES DARLING at the opening of the present Parliament, the Legislative Council expressed its willingness to acquiesce in a protective tariff, even to the extent of placing a duty on wheat. The country had declared for protection, and, the Council was prepared to gratify the popular will to the top of its bent. Protectionists in the Assembly would concur with the Council in giving Protection all round. There was no reason why wheat should not be protected as well as widows' caps. The ministerial tariff, it is true, recognised the claims of the farmer so far as to place a duty on butter, bacon, cheese, oats, barley, and malt, and by a differential duty in favour of colonial spirits; but it did not place a duty on wheat. This was a fatal mistake. It was the weak point in the ministerial position-the teto du pont through which, by a bold stroke, Mr. FELLOWS and his coadjutors were to ...

A 'NIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH , THE " HYDAHS." FROII TIIE ARnOY.) IN tno earner days of the British Columbian gold-fields, when parties of men were ex ploring the Fraser River and its tributaries in various directions, but before sufficient numbers had arrived to awe the neighbouring tribes, several of the more advanced detach ments of minors were attacked, and in some cases seriously injured, by wandering bands of hostile Indians. These acts of violence were repeated whenever opportunity offered, till at last fireluent suflbring induced the miners to take )roper precautions a.ainst surprise and attack. As a rule, no one knows better than an Indian when he ianv commit a depredation with impunity, and 'therefore the nmurderous a:saults on the white men were discontinued as soon as it was found that the results were altogether disproportioned to the cost. There was, however, a certain number of white nmen continually ariving from Vancouver Island and the coast, many of whom, having confiden...

NEWS OF THE WEEK, The reaping machine, the cradle, and the more primitive instrument--the sickle-are now being wielded with a will in every part of the district, gathering in the fruits of the season; and, cer tainly, more propitious weather could not possibly be had for that purpose. This week and next will almost finish the barley harvest. The crops have turned out most abundant, and the quality of the grain is, as a whole, superior to any that has been grown in the district. We are glad to learn that several of the Melbourno produce merchants and maltsters have visited the district with the view of purchasing barley for the coming season; and that, in consequence, very satisfactory prices have been obtained by the farmers. So that, with the prospect of good crops of all other kinds of grain, and also root crops (should the weather hold good for a few weeks longer, and enable the farmer to house his crops securely), this will be the best season we have had for many years. We have ...

AGRIO ULT URAL. IIHAVEST may be said to have now com menced, and would have done so sooner but for the cool, dull weather which prevailed in the early part of the week and few previous We have not heard of the existence in any numbers of such insects as the caterpillar this season; but, without being open to the charge of prophesying evil, we may naturally expect that there is all the greater pro. bability of insect life being prolific after an absence for one season. However, be this as it may, it is a very good proverb that " Prevention is better than- cure," and con sequently we give our readers an epitome of an article frbm the Australasian upon the "Destruction of Insects." In autumn, im mediately after our harvest, we are led to believe that most of our enemies, in the shape of insects, follow the dictates of nature, and deposit their larvre, and in a position capable of being favourably acted upon by such implements as the scarifier, harrow, and roller. It is, then, recommend...

SCOURTS OF PETTY SESSIONS. | BACCHUS MARSH. iSArUnnAJ, DECaiu;R I1. lofore Dr. Rae, J.P., and J. Young, Esq., J.P.) 'LARCENY.--John Mulligan was charged with ving stolen from Patrick Egan, employed by SE. Crook, Esq., several articles, comprising oo blankets, Criimon shirt, coat, flute, and nsors-valuo, about £2. The prisoner had boon estod by Senior-constablo Kiornan on the day the robbery for drunkonness, and the constable Isequontly traced the stolen property; which d been sold by the prisoner to two residents on I Marsh. Sontenced to three mouths'imprison. Ant with hard labour in Melbourne Gaol,

MONDAY, DEoRsMER 3. (Samo Magistrats.) DBSTITUTION.-Johnl Maconochio was brought loro the Bench as a person having no visible ans of support. The poor man appeared to be *y ill. Sonior.constablo Kiornan stated that a Ighbour of Maconochio's, at Goodman's Crook, d Lformed him (Kiornan) of the unfortunate lition of Maconochio, and requested that the lice should take care of him. Accordingly, the na was brought before the 13onch, to be dealt Lh under the Vagrant Act, The Iench elicited im Miaconolhio the fact that ho had no means support; no friends to assist him; and that he' Swilling to go to gaol in default of any better o, as he was very ill. The magistrates awarded ten sHillings from the poor-box, and sentonced to seven days' imnprisonmnent in the Melbourne oI, explaining to lMaconolhie that he would be Isferred by tho Oaol authorities to the lospital, lch the Bonch had not the power to do themi •cs, Sonior.constable Kiernan promised to ovey hiin to town as gently as possible, and...

KYNETON. The Guardian of the 5th instant says -Although there is little doing in breadstuffs since our last, prices have advanced slightly, and may be quoted as follows:-Flour £12 10s. to £13 per ton; wheat 4s. 10d. to 5s. per bushel. Oats, 4s. Gd. to 4s, 8d. per bushel; bran, Is, 10d., and pollard, 2s. per bushel. Hay, new £2 10s per ton; old do., £5 per ton, according to quality; chaff, £3 per ton; straw, £2 10s., per ton, bundled; barley, 4s. 9d. per bushel. Potatoes-In this article there has been a considerable fall, and they may now obtained at £5 per ton, bags returnable; butter, fresh, 9d. to 10d. per lb; ditto best potted, 9d. to l0d, per lb; bacon, colonial, 10d, to is. per lb; cheese, colonial, 6d. to is. per lb; eggs, Is. to is. id. per dozen.

ALEXANDER BLAOKWOOD BEGS to thank his numerous customers for the favours and general support he has ex. ?orlonced for the hint eleven years he has been in businoss in Molton, and to inform them that, in addition to the Black~mith business (whioh he still carries on in its various branches), he has opened a now and commodious GROCERY AND PROVISION STORE, Including IRONMONGERY AND GENERAL STOCK, Suitable for a country trade. Ho, therefore, most respootfully solicits from his friends at continuance of those favours, which he gratefully acknow. ledges. A. B. is also AGENT for the GORDON'S SAW MILLS, and has at present ia large stock of sawn hardwood of the varlious sioes in general demand; also, softwood of various sizes, deals, American lumber, &amp;c,., which he will sell at very reasonable prices. A. B. bogs to inform the farmers and public generally that he is still AGEN 'r for the BORDER FLOUJ. MILLS, Bacohus Marsh, and will spare no effort to conduct that department of his bus...

GENTLiEMEN'S SPRING AND SUMMER CLOTHING, O UR purchases in the IIome and Continental Markets are now to hand, and to which we invito special attention. The Newest Styles of Coatings In West of England Elastics, Ribbs and lMoltons, B1liss, of Chipping Norton, celebrated Twoode, For Riding Trousers and Pants, now mixturos. All the diflcrent makes of West of England and Scotch Trouserings,, Fancy French Cashmore and Quilting Vostings. Superior Waterproof Tweed Overeon tings. Russell Cords, Alpacas, China Silk, And Other Light Materials for Sununmmer Wear. ALL 000DS TIIOROUGHLY SHRUNK Before being made up. Patterns and Instructions for Self-Measurement went free by post, on application. A Largo and Fashionable STOCK. OF READY-MADE CLOTHING. OUTFITS TO ENGLAND And all parts of the World, on the Shortest Notice. Moderato Charges. 'irst-class Cutters and Workmen employed on the promises. COOKSON AND BROWN, SUCCESSORS TO G. AND J. ESPIE. WHITE DRESS SHIRTS. The attention of gentlemen requir...

LATER ENGLISH NEWS, * VIA TORRES STRAITS. On Sunday the Hero, with telegraphic news to the following dates, arrived at Port Denison, and the following telegrams have been transmitted: Cholera still fluctuates in London, with a tendency to spread. Her Majesty has promised to open in person the new water supply for the city of Aberdeen. Reform meetings are still being heldin different parts of the country in support of manhood suffrage and vote by ballot. A monster demon. stration of working men has taken place in Leeds. Great reform demonstrations have taken place at Glasgow. The Prince of Wales is about to proceed to St. Petersburg, to assist at the marriage of the Princess Dagmar. The Italians have occupied Venice, and a treaty has been concluded between Prussia and Saxony. The Italians have occupied Verona. Prussia has taken formal possession of the kingdom of I-IHanover, the ox-King having first protested against the annexation, and relieved his subjects from their allegiance. He...

ARRIVAL OF THE PANAMA MAIL. On the 9th November, the Rakaai passed Piteairn Island. The islanders wanted Captain Wright to settle the disputes that had arisen amongst thenm, but he had not time to stop. A statement was to be prepared for the next mail steamer relating to the dispute, which was to be conveyed to the Governor of New South Wales. The feud has relation to women and land. From Europe and England the dates per Atlantic telegraph are to 7th October. Owing to the bad working of the telegraph lines in Newfoundland, the despatches are meagre. New lines are pro. jected, which will remedy this defect. The insurrection in Candia is spreading. A battle has been fought in Caudia between the Turkish forces and the Christians. In the engage. ment the former remained masters of the field. The latter lost 600 men, killed and wounded. The Turkish Government contemplated breaking off relations with Greece. Consols closed in London at 89, and United States five twenties at,70. Napoleon h...